“Love’s Pure Light” shone on the faces of everyone in attendance at Gettysburg Area Middle School as the Gettysburg Civic Chorus sang its heart out in the group’s annual (streaming) Christmas concert Sunday afternoon.
Directed by retired local music teacher Bill Serfass and accompanied by Jamie Bowman (with ten musicians on drums, strings, flute and piano), the chorus is likely the oldest music group in Gettysburg. Established in 1962, its rich history spans performances in countless church services and at civic and patriotic events — including for Mamie Eisenhower and Gettysburg’s American Freedom Train during the U.S. Bicentennial — and (recently) singing annually with the Hanover Symphony Orchestra.
A bass player and tenor, Serfass began participating with the Chorus in the early ‘80s and graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in Music Education in in 1981. A dedicated (K-8) music teacher, he retired from Franklin Township Elementary School in 2021.
Bowman directs choral activities for students in grades 6-12 in the Gettysburg Area School District.
Serfass credits the leadership of his late predecessor, Tom Kittinger, with growing the Chorus’s membership (while performing at the Seminary Chapel) substantially from 2008-2016. When Kittinger passed in 2016, Serfass was asked to step up as director and the Chorus moved to the larger venue at Gettysburg Area Middle School.
Its members range in age from 21 to 80-plus and hail from Gettysburg, Adams County, Lancaster County, and Maryland.
Seventy-two choristers dove into Sunday’s well-rehearsed concert performing a traditional Latin-text number, Hodie, described in the excellent program notes as “Rhythmic and dramatic…the perfect way to open your concert.”
Through most of the first half, music carried the concert’s voice, lifting Heavenward with more Latin-text numbers like Benedictus and Toccata of Praise, followed by T’was in the Moon of Wintertime, a (native) Canadian song believed to have been written by a Jesuit missionary in the 17th century.
Tenor Sarah Lewis delivered a sweet solo performance in Beautiful Savior, followed by ensemble performances of Mary’s Little Boy Child, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and Love’s Pure Light (Silent Night) (accompanied by strings).
Serfass broke his verbal silence in a strong finish of the first half of the concert by inviting all to join in singing the refrain of Angelic Christmas Fanfare…Traditional Carol (“Gloria”) and pivoting to direct both the singers onstage and in the audience.
During Intermission, a kindred local music group— the Flute Flock of Gettysburg directed by Georgia Hollabaugh — performed the popular You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch; Sleigh Ride for Lakeside Flute, and Silent Night! Holy Night! to a pleased audience.
After Intermission, Serfass started the concert’s second (and lighthearted) half by telling the story behind the next number — Can I Have the Stars — music he wrote that was inspired by a poem penned by a prior 2nd grade student (Zachary Hartzell). Then soloists Dorothy Bollinger, Dixie Colgan, Jill Huey, Cathy Pecher, Ed Riggs, Lindsay Sneeringer, Ernie Kranius and Leah Watson performed the song with childlike appeal and humor.
A performance of the traditional Star Carol transitioned to New Star — a Gospel piece accompanied by piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums and featuring standout solos by Jess Sheehan and Jonathan Reck. And sisters Carol Garman and Sharon Hedges slayed an exciting four-handed piano accompaniment in Bell Carol.
Mary Did You Know followed with a lovely layering of vocals that nodded to the Pentatonix version recorded in 2014.
Next up, soloists Billinger, Kranius, Riggs, Stephanie Roelker, Barbara Semiatin and Watson performed an upbeat doo-wop styled version of the ever-popular Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, followed by We Need A Little Christmas accompanied by guitar, bass guitar and drums, and closing with a heartfelt performance of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
Speaking to the strong sense of Gettysburg community and Christmas spirit emanating from the stage, local Katie Thomas — who’s been attending for five years and came to hear her close friend Brenda Singer and neighbor Carolyn Jacobson sing — said she looks forward to hearing the chorus perform.
“They’re fun, enthusiastic and put their hearts and souls into the music,” she said.
Serfass agrees.
“I do believe that the Gettysburg Civic Chorus is a wonderful representation of the community in which it exists,” he says.
Filmed and live streamed by Community Media (communitymedia.net); the video of “Love’s Pure Light” can be viewed through links at the Chorus’s website and on Facebook.
Musician credits include Bowman (accompanist), Dan White (percussion), Roger Sine (bass guitar), Bennett Sheahan (guitar), Emily Fitez (flute), Bevan Durant Fidler (violin), Dr. Norman Nunamaker (violin), Ryan Kozak (viola), Monisola Paige Okotieuro (cello), and Sharon Hedges and Carol Garman (piano).
Gettysburg Civic Chorus is a nonprofit 501C3, organization. Performances are free but donations can be made by free will offering during Intermission at concerts or (tax deductible) at its website. The next performances are scheduled for June 7th and 8th, 2025. See www.gettysburgcivicchorus.com.
Thank you, Patti for your eloquent piece about the Sunday concert by the Gettysburg Civic Chorus! It is truely amazing what a group of dedicated folks can do with a little over 30 hours of combined rehearsals and a bit of practice at home! It is a fun group to direct! They are our neighbors and friends!
My pleasure! Thank you for such a lovely gift to our Gettysburg Community!